Miscellaneous Pictures - 2007

Here are some random shots taken in 2007.

Every year, our friend Heidi (just behind Claudia) rents a pontoon boat to cruise around Portage Lakes. There just happens to be a series of bars on the lakes (which are a series of lakes hooked together through a series of canals) and we make sure to have a couple at each spot! This is a shot after we have hit several of the bars. It has (from left to right) Allan, Heidi, Toby, Bobby, and Barbara. It is always a good time!

One of the things Sarah had to do for class in 2007 was to volunteer for some socially active activity. Because Steve was helping to organize an anti-global warming rally on campus, Sarah went with him to put up a series of posters to advertise the event! Got to get those kiddies involved young!

 

This is the gaggle of girlies that attended Sarah's 9th birthday party (notice the crown for the "queen").

 
As happens every April, the girls have their respective birthdays and the cameras come out of hiding! Here is a shot of Sophie unwrapping one of her numerous gifts - a "My littlest Pony" set. Clearly, she is psyched!

Here is a shot of the girls who attended Sophie's 6th birthday. They all had "kitty faces" painted on them. Sophie is looking kooky, as normal (3rd from the right on the couch)!

 
One of the things that we promised the girls during our Italy trip was that we would get them a cat when we got home. Because Steve is allergic to most cats, we could only get one of Asian decent (Siamese or Burmese) which for some reason doesn't bother him as much. We ended up getting a "Tokinese" which is a cross between a Burmese and a Siamese. Her name is "Hazelnut" but we all pretty much call her "Kitty"!

Steve had a student visit him from Jordan (Ehab) to learn how to rear and genetically analyze clam shrimp.Ehab turned out to be a REALLY nice guy and we had fun showing him around the area. Here is a shot of Ehab (next to Steve) with Sarah and Sophie's grandparents (Ed and Barbara Weil - Claudia's parents) who have moved to Copley from NY City.

 
i
As Spring bled into Summer, we got to take one of our yearly camping trips, this time to Mohican State Park. Here is a shot of Sarah and Steve putting up the family tent!

The end of summer is always obvious because the girls have to go back to school (as does Steve)! Here is a shot of the girls at the first day of school waiting for the bus. Look how nicely mown that lawn is!

 
Claudia has done an amazingly good job of establishing many gardens around our house. We have 2/3 of an acre, and thus there is PLENTY of room for gardens! There are 3 main gardens: one in front and two in back. There are a number of smaller gardens around the house also. This is a shot of the large one in the front. It is difficult to do it justice in a single picture, but this gives you a flavor of the beauty that Claudia has brought to our home!

As it was when Steve and Claudia were kids, Halloween is a BIG deal in Copley! This year, Sarah decided to go as a princess and Sophie was a witch! One of the cool things that is done around here is the cul-de-sacs will often band together and have large tables and give away donuts (and other baked goods), hot chocolate and coffee (for the parents)! You can see here the girls enjoying some hot chocolate and a cupcake!